When Stickers Get Stuck Somewhere

(8/5/2012) Plans by the Indonesian government to compel all government-owned vehicles across major areas of the country to buy only non-subsidized fuel beginning August 1, 2012, has come to naught in Bali due to a lack of government-produced stickers intended to identify those vehicles no longer eligable to purchase subsidized fuel.

Beritabali.com reports that provincial and regional government offices in Bali had not received the required stickers in time to affix them to publicly owned vehicles.

A provincial assistant for the economy and development, Ketut WIja, confirmed the stickers meant to compel state-owned vehicles to purchase the more expensive, non-subsidized Pertamax had yet to arrive in Bali. He said that until the stickers did arrive, administration of the new policy would rest with the State-owned oil company Pertamina.

Wija said in the interim vehicles with red license plates signifying them as owned by the state should be requested to purchase Pertamax. He continued, saying red-plated vehicles refusing to comply with the new policy should be noted and reported to the agency for supervision of minerals and gas (BP Migas).

Ketut Wija said that 9,000 stickers have been set aside for the province of Bali. It is currently estimated that there are 3,000 state-owned cars and 4,500 state-owned motorcycles operating in Bali. These totals do not include vehicles operated by state-owned companies, provincially owned companies, the military and the police.